Rainn Wilson, best-known for playing the eccentric "assistant to the regional manager" Dwight Schrute in the NBC comedy The Office, opens up on the show's enduring popularity despite ending nine years ago. Based on the British sitcom of the same name, the mockumentary series follows the lives of the employees of the Scranton branch of paper company Dunder Mifflin, charting the farcical events and situations that occur in their otherwise mundane workplace. Alongside Wilson, the series also starred Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and B.J. Novak, with a whole host of other recurring characters who also featured throughout the show's run. As well as receiving critical acclaim from critics and winning five Emmy awards across its nine seasons, The Office remains extremely popular with audiences following its heartfelt finale in 2013, with many citing it as one of the best sitcoms of all time.
The Office is arguably most notable for its variety of comedic characters that make up the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch, from childish yet well-meaning regional manager Michael Scott (Carell) and prank-master Jim Halpert (Krasinski) to sarcastic receptionist Pam Beesly (Fischer) and antagonizing temp Ryan Howard (Novak). However, it is Wilson's portrayal of the devoted, outlandish salesman Dwight Schrute that is perhaps the show's most iconic enduring performance. Renowned for his idiosyncratic outlook on life and unconventional approach to his relationships with his colleagues, Dwight has become an oft-quoted fan-favorite among audiences, with the character even becoming an internet meme. The part also proved to be a breakthrough role for Wilson, who has since gone on to appear in an eclectic range of film and television projects.
Now, Wilson reflects on the enduring popularity of the series that made him an international star. Discussing The Office with ET, the actor states that the series still resonating with audiences "is really miraculous," comparing it to other shows that "no one thinks about or watches... anymore." He also highlights how "super grateful" he is for working on a show that's now "playing in different parts of the world":
I think about The Office a lot because it’s become so culturally iconic. You know, obviously I’m recognized all the time, and they are always doing new stuff with The Office. It's playing in different parts of the world and there's different kinds of merchandise coming out and books and podcasts and whatnot. So that does make me end up thinking about it quite a lot. I really am super grateful. I know a lot of people that were on television shows for a very long time and no one thinks about or watches their television show anymore. And, you know, they got some nice paychecks, but that’s it. But the fact that we were able to make something that still resonates, especially with young people today, is really miraculous.
Wilson isn't the only cast member who's reflected on the legacy of The Office. Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey's podcast Office Ladies features the two former stars re-watching and commentating on each of the show's 201 episodes, providing behind-the-scenes facts about the series' production and reminiscing about their time working on it. The enduring popularity of The Office has certainly allowed for this kind of retrospective reflection from its cast.
While the undiminished love for the NBC series is well-known among the fanbase, it's always endearing to hear just how grateful the actors are for the success the show has continued to enjoy for such a long time. The Office helped launch several careers, with many of its stars now appearing in major blockbusters; despite this, it's clear that Wilson doesn't mind still being constantly recognized as the beet farming paper salesman. And although the actor continues to appear in a variety of vastly different projects, it may well be that Dwight Schrute remains his most famous role thanks to the impressive legacy of The Office.
Source: ET